Elevator article-supporting apparatus



Feb. 2, 1965 R. J. SHELLEY ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1963 R1%BERT H15 FIFE J lj fier ing Feb. 2, 1965 R. J. SHELLEY ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHELLEY Filed March 15, 1963 Feb. 2, 1965 R. .1. SHELLEY ELEVATORARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 15, 1963 INVEN TOR. J. SHELLEY BY ROBERT HILEEH United States Patent 3,168,198 ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS Robert J. Shelley, 7009 SW. 62nd Court, Miami, Fla. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 266,152 (Ilaims. (Cl. 2111-49) This invention relates to elevator article-supporting apparatus and, in one form of the invention, to elevator article-supporting apparatus of the type which may be used in restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and like places, for holding a stack of serving trays, glasses, cups, bowls, dishes, utensils, or other articles, or for holding books in libraries and like places, and for automatically maintaining such articles in an elevated position so that the uppermost articles on the elevator supporting apparatus will be at all times disposed in an elevated position in which they may be readily accessible and from which they may be readily removed as desired.

An object of the invention is to provide in one form thereof a new and improved portable elevator articlesupporting apparatus of the type which may be used in restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and like places, for holding a stack of service trays, glasses, cups, bowls, dishes, utensils, or other articles, or for holding books in libraries and like places, and which is so designed, constructed and arranged that it may readily be positioned in any convenient space in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, library, or like place, and readily moved from place to place therein and does not require any mounting in or other physical connection with a counter top, cabinet, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide in one form thereof a new and improved portable elevator article-supporting apparatus of the type which may be used for holding a stack of service trays, glasses, cups, bowls, dishes, utensils, or other articles, in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, or for holding books in libraries, and like places, and which embodies a novel construction, combination and arrangement of the supporting base, the yieldable elevator units mounted thereon, and a supporting member mounted on the elevator units, all in such a manner as to provide a compact portable elevator supporting apparatus for holding the various articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in one form thereof, a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus which is portable and which may be readily positioned in an insulated cabinet in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, home, or like place, for holding a supply of ice cubes, or crushed or flaked ice, and for maintaining the ice at a constantly elevated or raised position so that the ice may be readily accessible at all times for removal therefrom as and when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in one form thereof, an elevator ice supporting tray apparatus embodying novel means for supporting the ice supporting tray upon the elevator units and supporting frame structure so that it may be readily removed therefrom for replacement of a supply of ice on the ice supporting tray as and when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in one form thereof, an elevator ice supporting tray apparatus embodying a novel construction of a combination elevator and ice tray-supporting members for supporting an ice tray.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments 3,l@8,l98 Patented Feb. 2, 1955 of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable elevator tray-supporting apparatus embodying one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the form of the new portable elevator tray-supporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the article-supporting unit and the means for removably mounting the same upon the load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members of the elevator units;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction of one of the yieldable elevator units embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and the manner in which each of the yieldable elevator units are attached at their lower ends to the supporting base and are attached at its upper end to the artiole-supporting member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elevator ice traysupporting apparatus as embodied in a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 77 in FIG. 6 of one of the elevator units embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, and illustrating the construction thereof, and also illustrating the means by which the elevator units are attached to the supporting base, and the means by which the ice tray is detachably supported by the elevator units;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, on line til-d in FIG. 6, illustrating the manner in which the ice tray is removably mounted upon the elevator units;

FIG. 9 is a view on line 99 in FIG. 6, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the manner in which the ice tray is removably mounted upon the elevator units in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the ice tray and of the elevator and ice tray-supporting members, with part of the tray broken away; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional plan view on line 11-ll1 in FIG. 7.

A preferred embodiment of the new elevator articlesupporting apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at 10, comprises a supporting base ill which is shown as being open and generally rectangular in form and is preferably formed of chromium-plated tubular steel formed into a unitary rectangular member which includes side wall portions 12 and end wall portions 13. A plurality of yieldable elevator units 14 are mounted on the supporting base 11, and in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, two of the yieldable elevator units 14 are mounted on each end wall 13, in spaced relationship thereon, and extend vertically therefrom. Each of the yieldable elevator units 14 has a lower end portion which is attached to one of the end walls 13 of the supporting base 11 in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

It will be understood, in this connection, that since all of the elevator units 14 are the same in construction and 3. the supporting base-11, as shown in FIG. 4. T he lower end portion 16 of each of the tubular guide members is attached, by a bolt 18, to one of the end walls 13 of the supporting frame 11. To this end the bolt 18 extends through suitably aligned openings 19 formed in the tubular end wall portion 13 of the supporting base 11 and through suitable aligned openings 20 formed in the lower end portion 16 of the upright tubular guide member or standard 15, the bolt 18 being secured in position by a nut 21 (FIG. 4). A .second upright tubular guide member 22, which is shorter than the inner tubular guide memher or standard 15, surrounds the lower end portion of Al. friotionally fitted in, or otherwise suitably mounted in,

. the upper end portion of the inner tubular guide memwhich will be described presently, upon the outer loadthe elongated inner tubular guide member or standard 15 in concentric relationship therewith.

Arranged in the space between the elongated inner tubular guide member or standard 15 and the outer tubular guide member 22 is an elongated inner compression coil spring 23. If unrestrained, the compression coil spring 23, in its fully expanded state, would project somewhat above the upper end portion of the inner tubular guide member or standard 15, but under no-load condition, as

shown in FIG. 4, and in full lines in FIG.'3, the compression coil spring 23 is under slight compression between the end wall 13 of the supporting base 11 and an in-turned stop flange 24 which is formed at the top of an inner movable tubular sleeve 25. The inner movable tubular sleeve .25 is approximately the length of the outer tubular guide member 22 (FIG. 4), and is disposed concentrically with the outer tubular guide member 22, but is somewhat larger in diameter than the outer tubular guide member 22, and these parts are so dimensioned that in the assernbly thereof the inner tubular sleeve 25 is disposed in slidmg contact with the outer tubular guide member shown in FIG. 4. n

An outer compression coil spring 26 is arranged concentrically about the outside of the inner tubular sleeve 2 and this outer compression coil spring 26 is substantially'shorter than the inner compression coil spring 23-. An outer tubular guide member 27 is arranged concentrically about the outer compression coil spring 26 and is substantially shorter than the outer compression coil spring 26. The outer tubular guide member 27 is formed at its lower end with an in-turned flange 28 which abuts the upper side of an out-turned stop flange 29 which is formed on the lower end of the inner rnovable tubular sleeve 25. spring 26 is disposed in the space between the outer tubular guide member 27 and the inner tubular sleeve 25, and the lower end. of the compression coil spring 26 engages the inner or upper side of the in-turned stop flange 28 on the outer tubular guide member 27.

An outer movable tubular sleeve 30 is arranged concentrically about the outer [tubular guide member 27 and these two members 30 and 27 have their lower and upper end portions, respectively, in nested engagement, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the outer tubular sleeve 30 will slide vertically on and relative to the outer [tubular guide member 27. The outer tubular sleeve 30 is approximately the same length as the outer tubular guide member 27. The outer tubular sleeve 3% has an inturned flange 31 at the top thereof and the upper end pontion 32 of the inner tubular guide member or standard 15 projects through a centrally arranged opening 33 which is formed in the in-turned top flange 31 of the outer tubular sleeve 3%, this opening being large enough to enable the in-turned flange 24 of the inner tubular sleeve 25 to work therethrough (FIG. 4). An outwardly extending annular flange 34 is formed on the upper end portion of the inner tubular guide member or standard 15 and this flange 34 ext-ends over the inturned flange 31 of the outer tubular sleeve 36'. A washer 36 is arranged between the in-turned top flange 34 of the outer tubular sleeve 3% and the outwardly extending flange 31 on the inner tubular guide member or standard 15, and a headed plug or cap member is The outer compression coil 7 carrying sleeve members 3d of the elevator units 14. To this end an annular groove 37 is formed in the body of tie outer tubular sleeve 36', on the outer surface thereof, approximately midway between the topand bottom thereof (FIG. 4) and a load-carrying member 36, has a portion thereof extending into and fitting in the annular groove 37. 'As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, there are two of these loadcarryi'ng members 38, one of'which extends between and interconnects the two outer tubular sleeve members 30 in a pair of the elevator units 14, and to this end each load-carrying member 38 has a portion which is mounted in the annular groove 37 in each of the two outer sleeves 30 in a pair of the elevator units 14. Each of these load-carrying members 33 also has a depending flange 39 which faces toward a tray-supporting unit which will now be described (FIGS. 1 and 4).

Thus, the new elevator article-supporting apparatus 1% (FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive) includes an article-supporting unit 459, which is generally rectangular in plan form or shape (FIG. 2), and is generally L-shaped in cross section (FIGS. 1 and 4), and this article-supporting unit 46 includes a horizontal wall 41 which is surrounded by an upstanding vertical flange or side wall 42. The article-supporting unit 40 is fixedly or permanently attached, as by welding 43 (FIG. 4), to attaching mem bers 56 which are removably mounted upon the loadcarrying outer tubular sleeve members 30 of the elevator units 14.

To this end each of the attaching members 56 is in the form of a generally rectangular-shaped ferrous or like metal plate member 56 having a pair of spaced annular openin s 57 therein for the reception of the outer load-carrying tubular sleeve members 30 of the eleva- (tor units 14. Each of the attaching members 56 has an upwardly extending flange 58 at its inner end and the upwardly extending flange 42 of the article-supporting unit 44 is fixedly or permanently attached, as by welding 43, to the upwardly extending flanges 58 of the attaching members 56. This arrangement enables the articlesupponting unit 4%) and attaching members 5658 to be readily inserted into and removed from position of use upon the outer load-carrying tubular sleeve members 30 of the elevator units 14 with the attaching members 56-58 normally resting upon the upper surfaces of the load-carrying members 38 (FIG. 4).

In the use of the form of the new portable elevator article-supporting apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclu sive, of the drawings, the same being portable may be placed in any suitable space in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, library, or the like, without the necessity for attaching or fastening it to or mounting it on any cabinet, counter top, or the like, and a stack of serving trays, wire baskets for holding glasses, cups, dishes, bowls, utensils, or books, etc, may be mounted on the horizontal flange 42 of the article-supporting unit 40, within the side wall 42 thereof, and withdrawn therefrom, as needed.

In the operative condition of the elevator units 14 embodied in the new portable elevator article-supporting apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner compression coil spring 23 acts on the in-turned top flange 24 of the inner tubular sleeve 25 to apply an upward lifting or holding force thereto, and this upward lifting or holding force is transmitted from the top flange 24 of the inner tubular sleeve and the outer tubular guide member 27, respectively.

The design and rates of the compression coil springs 23 and 26 are such that both will remain stationary until the weight of a stack of trays, or baskets of glasses, cups, dishes, bowls, utensils, other articles or a tray load of books, on the supporting unit 40 becomes sufllcient to cause downward compression of the outer compression coil spring 26, slightly ahead of the downward compression of the inner coil spring 23, thereby causing the upper end portion of the outer tubular sleeve 34) to move downwardly relative to the position in which it is shown in FIG. 4, and downwardly relative to the inner tubular sleeve 25, through a short separate stroke. This downward movement of the outer tubular sleeve 3!? enables the distance between the tops of the elevator units 14 and the uppermost tray on the tray-supporting member 4t) to be minimixed or kept at a minimum distance at all times. Thus, in order to prevent the load or stack of articles on the article-supporting member 49 from moving the two compression coil springs 23 and 26 down, the two compression coil springs 23 and 26 are made long enough and of such strength as to support the weight load of an average or normal stack of articles to be stored on the article-supporting member 48 before there is any appreciable downward movement and action of the outer tubular sleeve 31 of the elevator units 14 and the article-supporting member 40 carries thereby. However, as additional trays, baskets of glasses, cups, dishes, bowls, utensils, or other articles, such as trays of books, are added to the stack thereof on the article-supporting member til, the design and rate of the outer compression coil spring 26 are such as to compress approximately one inch of movement for each two inches of movement of the inner compression coil spring 23, and in this way both compression coil springs 23 and 26 move downwardly at substantially the same rate and if compressed sufficiently would reach bottom at approximately the same time.

Accordingly, when the weight load on the article-supporting member 4t becomes suflicient, the outer tubular sleeve 39 first moves downwardly, thereby compressing the outer coil spring 25 between the in-turned flange 31 at the top of the outer tubular sleeve 30 and the in-turned flange 28 at the bottom of the outer tubular guide member 27, which said flanges 31 and 28, during this time, move closer together. During this operation the inturned flange 31 at the top of the outer tubular sleeve 3t) engages the in-turned flange 24 at the top of the inner tubular sleeve member 25 and eventually, as additional weight in the form of additional trays, baskets of glasses, cups, dishes, or other articles, are added to and upon the articl -supporting member h the inner tubular sleeve 25 is pulled down against the action of the inner compression coil spring 23, due to the increased weight load on the article-supporting member 4t), and the engagement between the flanges Z8 and 29, on the outer tubular guide member 27 and on the inner tubular sleeve member 25, respectively, as explained above. Hence, the inner coil spring 23 begins to compress as the loading force is applied thereto by the in-turned flange 24 at the top of the inner tubular sleeve member 25, and the inner tubular sleeve member 25 begins to move down with the outer tubular sleeve member 36 as additional trays, baskets, or the like, are added to the article-supporting member 49, until the parts assume a loaded position as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, or a position thereabove or therebelow, depending upon the number of articles stacked on the article-supporting member 40.

It will be noted that the mounting of the elevator units 14 in the end 'wall portions 13 of the supporting base 11 is such that the entire new portable elevator article-supporting apparatus, including the supporting base 11, may be slidably moved over a floor or like supporting surface in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, library, or like place, with out the danger of marring the same. Moreover, the construction and assembly of the parts is such as to provide for adequate lateral stability of the entire unit in both loaded and unloaded condition, while at the same time, the entire unit, in either loaded or unloaded condition may be readily moved from place to place, as desired.

Moreover, the novel arrangement and construction of the attaching members 55-58 and attached article-supporting unit in relation to the load-carrying members 38-39 enables the article-supporting unit and attaching members 56-58 to be readily removed from position of use in the load-carrying members 38-39 for cleaning or other purposes.

The construction and operation of the elevator units 14 are substantially the same as the construction and operation of the elevator units shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 of Patent No. 2,928,639 and differ therefrom primarily only in the manner in which the combination attaching members 3839 are mounted on the outer tubular load-carrying sleeves 39 of the elevator units 14; the manner in which the inner tubular guide member or standard 15 is attached to the supporting base 11-1243, as shown at the bottom of FIG. 4; the construction of the upper end portion of the inner tubular guide member or standard 15 and the outwardly extending flange 33 thereon; and the fastening of the outwardly extending flange 33 on the vertically extendin tubular guide member or standard 15 to the inturned flange 31 on the outer tubular sleeve member 30 of the elevator unit 14, and associated parts, as shown at the top of FIG. 4.

A modification of the invention which is particularly useful in an ice tray-supporting apparatus for use in freezers, restaurants, cafeterias, homes, and the like, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings, and those parts thereof which are similar or comparable to corresponding parts in the form of the invention illus trated in FEGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, have been given similar reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference characters a.

The new elevator ice tray-supporting apparatus, shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, includes an ice supporting tray which is generally indicated at 44, which is generally rectangular in plan form or shape, and the ice supporting tray 44 is carried by the outer tubular sleeves 313a. of the elevator units 14a. The mounting of the ice tray 44 on the outer sleeves 3% of the elevator units 14a is accomplished by a pair of ice tray-supporting members 45 each of which is mounted on the outer tubular sleeve 3% of one of the elevator units 1401. To this end each of the members 45 has a centrally arranged opening 46 therein for the reception of one of the tubular outer sleeve members 30:: and the marginal edge portion 47 of the member 45 which defines the opening d6 therein projects 'into the annular groove 37a in the tubular outer sleeve 30a.

Each of the ice tray-supporting members 45 has a depending flange 48 formed therein, and the ice tray 44- is removably mounted on and extends between the two ice tray-supporting members 45-48.

Thus, the ice supporting tray 44 includes a horizontally extending body 49 which is provided with drain apertures 54 and the body 49 of the tray 44 has a pair of vertically extending parallel flanges or side walls 51 at the sides thereof. A pair of spaced parallel substantially V-shaped or trough-shaped downwardly extending portions 52 are formed in the body 49 of the ice tray unit 44 and project downwardly therefrom in parallel relationship between the depending flanges 48 of the ice tray-supporting members 44 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 10).

Portions 53 are notched out of the body 49 of the ice tray 44 at each end thereof to permit the ice tray 44 to be assembled to the horizontal walls of the ice tray-sup porting members 45 and to enable the end walls 53 of the V-shaped depending portions 52 thereof to be abutted against the depending flanges 43 of the members 45 and to enable the tray 44 to be positioned between the latter. An opening 54 (FIGS. 7 and 11) is provided in each jsleeves 39a of the elevator units 14a.

tion of the outer sleeve 49a of each of the elevator units 14a and so that the tray 44 may be'readily used and removed from the elevator units 14a.

In the use of the new elevator ice tray unit shown in FIGS. to 11, inclusive, of the drawings, the same may be positioned in an insulated cabinet, or like place, since it is readily portable, and when so positioned the ice tray unit 44 may be detachably mounted in position of use by inserting the outer tubular sleeves 36a of the elevator units 14a into the opening in the body of the tray 44 while, at the same time, using the downwardly extending ll-shaped ridge portion 52 thereof between thedownwardly extending flanges 48a of the tray-supporting members 45 which, as shown, are carried by the outer tubular When the parts are so arranged a supply of ice cubes, crushed or flaked ice, may be stored upon the body 49 of the ice tray 44 and between the parallel side walls 51 thereof, and water which is formed by melting of the ice will be readily drained through the openings 5% in the body 49 of the ice tray 4-4. a

In the operative state of the new elevator ice tray apparatus, as shown inFiGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, the inner coil springs 23a is effective on the top flange 24a of the inner tubular sleeve 25:: to apply an upwardly lifting force on the tubular guide member 2% and this force is transmitted by the engaged flanges 29a and 28a of the inner tubular sleeve 25a and the outer tubular guide member 27, respectively, to the outer concentric parts.

The rates of the compression coil springs 23a and 26a are such that both remain stationary until the weight of the ice on the ice tray member 44 causes downward compression of the outer coil spring 26a, slightly ahead of the inner coil spring Zda, whereupon the upper end portion of the outer sleeve 36:: is caused to move downwardly relative to its position as shown in FIG. 9, and downwardly relative to the inner sleeve 25a through a short separate stroke. This enables the distance between the top of the new elevator ice tray unit Mia and the top of the ice on the tray 44 to be minimized or to be kept at a minimum at all times. Thus, in order to prevent the load or weight of the ice on the tray 44 from moving the springs 23a and 26a down, the compression coil springs 23a and 26a are made long enough and of such strength as to support the weight of a supply of ice on the tray 44 before there is any appreciable movement and action of the elevator units 114a. Subsequently, as additional ice is added to the supply thereof on the tray 44, the design and construction of the outer compression coil spring 26a are such as to allow it to be compressed approximately one inch for each two inches of movement of the inner compression coil spring 23a, and in this way both compression coil springs 23a and 26a move at approximately the same rate and'if sufficiently loaded, would bottom at approximately the same time.

Accordingly, when the weight of the ice on the tray 44 becomes sufficient to cause this action, the outer tubular sleeve 341a first moves downwardly, thereby compressing the outer coil spring 26a between the in-turned flange Sla at the top of the outer sleeve 36a and'the in-turned flange 28a at the bottom of the outer tubular guide member 2721, which said flanges 31a and 28a move closer together, during this operation. During this operation the stop flange 31a at the top of the outer tubular sleeve a engages the in-turned flange 2411 at the top of the inner tubular sleeve 25a and eventually, as additionalweight, in the form of additional ice, is added to the tray 44, the innertubular-sleeve 25a is pulled down against the action of the inner compression coil spring 23a, due to the increased load on the ice tray 44 and the engagement between the flanges 2$a and 29a of the outer tubular guide member 27a and the inner tubular sleeve 25a, respectively. Hence, the inner coil spring 23:: starts to compress as the loading force'is applied thereto by the top flange 24a of the inner tubular sleeve 25a and the inner tubular sleeve 25a starts to move down with the outer sleeve Zita as additional weight, in the form of ice, is added to the tray 44, until the parts assume a loaded position, such as that shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, or a position therebelow, depending upon the volume and weightof ice on the tray 44-.

It will be noted that the mounting of the elevator units 14a in the end wall portions 13a of the supporting base 11a is such that the entire new elevator ice tray apparatus, including the supporting base 11a, is readily portable, and may be slidably moved over a floor or like supporting surface in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, without danger of marring the same. Moreover, the construction and assembly. of the parts, including the mounting of the tray-supporting members 44-45 on the outer tubular sleeves Ella of the elevator units 14a, and the engagement of the end walls 48 of the depending ribs or ridges 52 on the body 49 of the tray 4-4, provides for adequate lateral stability of the entire unit while, at the same time, the entire unit, either loaded or unloaded, may bereadily moved from place to place as desired and may be readily inserted into and removed from position of use in a freezer.

It will be noted that in the use of the new elevator ice tray apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, inclusive, in a freezer, or the like, ice cubes, crushed or flaked ice, are readily accessible for removal from the top of the ice tray 44 as and when needed, and without requiring the user to reach down into the freezer to reach the ice.

Moreover, the ice tray 44 is readily removable from the tray-supporting members 45-48 to enable a supply of ice to be placed thereon, or for cleaning purposes, and the like, and the entire unit is so constructed that all parts thereof are readily accessible, and hence may be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus having the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishes its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus comprising-the combination of a supporting base, a pluurging the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units andthe said supporting member car- 'ried thereby into a normally elevated position but said spring means being compressible under load applied to said tray-supporting member, and means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units, each of the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of each of said elevator units having an annular groove formed therein on the outer surface thereof, and the said means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units including a load-carrying member having a portion thereof mounted in the said annular groove in the said load-carrying tubular sleeve member of a plurality of said elevator units. 7

2. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a pluard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, tubular guide means concentrically and telescopically mounted on each of said vertically extending tubular guide members or Standards outwardly thereof, a load-carrying tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on each of said guide means, an article-supporting member carried by said tubular sleeve members, spring means arranged within said tubular guide means and normally urging the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units and the said supporting member carried thereby into a normally elevated position but said spring means being compressible under load applied to said tray-supporting member, and means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said loadcarrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units, the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of each of said elevator units having an annular groove formed therein on the outer surface thereof, and the said means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units including a load-carrying member having a portion thereof mounted in the said annular groove in the said load-carrying tubular sleeve member of a plurality of said elevator units, and the said portable elevator article-supporting apparatus including means for removably mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said load-carrying members above the latter,

3. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending inner tubular guide member or standard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, tubular guide means concentrically and telescopically mounted on each of said vertically extending tubular guide members or standards outwardly thereof, a load-carrying tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on each of said guide means, an article-supporting member carried by said tubular sleeve members, spring means arranged within said tubular guide means and normally urging the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units and the said supporting member carried thereby into a normally elevated position but said spring means being compressible under load applied to said tray-supporting member, and means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said loadcarrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units, the said supporting base being in the form of an open tubular steel supporting frame and including a pair of parallel side walls and a pair of parallel end walls, and each of the said end walls having a pair of said elevator units mounted thereon and extending vertically upwardly therefrom in spaced relationship, each of the said end walls of said supporting base having an opening formed therein, and each of said elevator units including a vertically extending tubular guide member or standard having a lower end portion extending downwardly through the said opening therein into the body of one of said end walls of said supporting base, and said portable elevator article-supporting apparatus including means for fastening the said lower end portion of each of said vertically extending tubular guide members or standards within the body of the corresponding end wall of said supporting base.

4. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending inner tubular guide member or standard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, tubular guide means concentrically and telescopically mounted on each of said vertically extending tubular guide members or standards outwardly thereof, a load-carrying tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on each of said guide means, an article-supporting member carried by said tubular sleeve members, spring means arranged within said tubular guide means and normally urging the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units and the said supporting member carried thereby into a normally elevated position but said spring means being compressible under load applied to said tray-supporting member, and means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said loadcarrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units, the said elevator units being arranged in pairs, and the said load-carrying tubular sleeve member of each of said elevator units having an annular groove formed therein on the outer surface thereof, and the said means for attaching the said article-supporting member upon the said elevator units including an attaching member extending between each pair of said elevator units and having a portion mounted in the said annular groove in each of a pair of said load-carrying tubular sleeve members.

5. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending inner tubular guide member or standard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, tubular guide means concentrically and telescopically mounted on each of said vertically extending tubular guide members or standards outwardly thereof, a load-carrying tubular sleeve member slidably mounted on each of said guide means, an article-supporting member carried by said tubular sleeve members, spring means arranged within said tubular guide means and normally urging the said load-carrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units and the said supporting member carried thereby into a normally elevated position but said spring means being compressible under load applied to said tray-supporting member, and means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said loadcarrying tubular sleeve members of said elevator units, the said elevator units being arranged in pairs, and the said load-carrying tubular sleeve member of each of said elevator units having an annular groove formed therein on the outer surface thereof, and the said means for mounting the said article-supporting member upon the said elevator units including a load-carrying member extending between each pair of said elevator units and having a portion mounted in the said annular groove in each of a pair of said load-carrying tubular sleeve members, the said article-supporting member being generally rectangular in shape and including a horizontally extending wall portion, and the said mounting means includes a pair of attaching members attached to the said articlesupporting member and removably mounted upon the said load-carrying members above the latter.

6. A portable elevator ice tray-supporting apparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending standard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, a relatively stationary tubular guide member and a tubular sleeve member concentrically and telescopically mounted upon and carried by each of said vertically extending standards outwardly thereof, an outer tubular guide member arranged upon said inner tubular sleeve concentrically therewith and outwardly thereof, an outer tubular load-carrying sleeve member slidably mounted on said outer tubular sleeve member, an ice tray carried by said outer tubular sleeve members, spring means normally urging the said outer and load-carrying tubular sleeve members into a normally raised or elevated position, but said spring means being compressible under a load of ice on the said ice tray, means for mounting the said ice tray upon the said load-carrying outer tubular sleeve members, the said elevator units being mounted in spaced relationship upon the said supporting base, and the said means for mounting the said ice tray on the said load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members including a member attached to and carried by each of said load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members and having a horizontally extending Wall portion thereon, the said ice tray being mounted upon and being supported by the said horizontally extending wall portions of said ice tray-supporting members between the said elevator units, each of said ice tray-supporting members having a depending flange formed therein at the inner end of the said horizontally extending wall portion thereof, and the said ice tray including a generally flat horizontally extending body including depending portions formed thereinhaving end walls engageable with the said depending 'fianges of the said horizontally extending wall portions of said ice tray-supporting members when the said ice tray is rested upon the said horizontally extending wall portions of said ice tray-supporting members.-

7. A portable elevator ice'tray-supportingapparatus comprising the combination of a supporting base, a plurality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending standard having a lower end' portion attached to the said supporting base, a relatively stationary tubular guide member and a tubular sleeve member concentrically and telescopically mounted upon and carried by each of said vertically extending standards outwardly thereof, an outer tubular guide member arranged upon said inner tubular sleeve concentrically therewtih and outwardly thereof, an outer tubular load-carrying sleeve member slidably mounted on said outer tubular sleeve member, an ice tray carried by said outer tubular sleeve, members, spring means normally urging the said outer and load-carrying tubular sleeve members into a normally raised or elevated position, but said spring means being compressible under a load of ice on the said ice tray, andmeans for mounting the said ice tray upon the said load-carrying outer tubular sleeve members, the said elevator units being mounted in spaced relationship upon the said supporting base and the said means for mounting the said ice tray on the said load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members including a member attached to and carried by each of said load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members .and having a horizontally extending wall portion thereon, the said ice tray being mounted upon and being supported by the said horizontally extending wall portions of said ice tray-supporting members between the said elevator units, and each of said ice tray-supporting members having a depending flange formed therein at the inner end of the said horizontally 8. A portable elevator article-supporting apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the said supporting base is in rality of elevator units each including a relatively fixed vertically extending standard having a lower end portion attached to the said supporting base, a relatively stationary tubular guide member and a tubular sleeve member concentrically and telescopically mounted upon and carried by each of said vertically extending standards outwardly thereof, an outer tubular guide member arranged upon said inner tubular sleeve concentrically therewith and outwardly thereof, and an outer tubular load-carrying sleeve member slidably mounted on said outer tubular sleeve member, an ice tray carried by said outer tubular sleeve members, spring means normally urging the said outer and load-carrying tubular sleeve members into a normally raised or elevated position, but said spring means being compressible under a load of ice on the said ice tray, and means for mounting the said ice tray upon the said load-carrying outer tubular sleeve members, each of said load-carryingouter tubular sleeve members having an annular groove formed in the body thereof and on the outer surface thereof, and the said means for mounting'the said ice tray on the said load-carrying outer tubular sleeve members including an ice tray supporting mem ber mounted on each of said load-carrying outer tubular sleeve members and having a portion extending into the said annular groove in each of said loadcarrying tubular outer sleeve members.

10. A portable elevator ice-tray supporting apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the said supporting base is generally rectangular in plan form and includes parallel side walls and parallel end walls, and in which said portable elevator ice tray-supporting apparatus includes a pair of said elevator units each mountedon one of said end Walls approximately midway between the ends thereof, and in which the said ice tray is disposed and extends between the said load-carrying tubular outer sleeve members of said elevator units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,731 5/19 Trekell 248-94 2,166,941 7/39 Corbin 248l 2,802,575 8/57 Harrison 108 106 2,928,639 3/60 Shelley 248204 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORTING BASE, A PLURALITY OF ELEVATOR UNITS EACH INCLUDING A RELATIVELY FIXED VERTICALLY EXTENDING INNER TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBER OR STANDARD HAVING A LOWER END PORTION ATTACHED TO THE SAID SUPPORTING BASE, TUBULAR GUIDE MEANS CONCENTRICALLY AND TELSCOPICALLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBERS OR STANDARDS OUTWARDLY THEREOF, A LOAD-CARRYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID GUIDE MEANS, AN ARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBERS, SPRING MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR GUIDE MEANS AND NORMALLY FURGING THE SAID LOAD-CARYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBERS OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS AND THE SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER CARRIED THEREBY INTO A NORMALLY ELEVATED POSITION BUT SAID SPRING MEANS BEING COMPRESSIBLE UNDER LOAD APPLIED TO SAID TRAY-SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAID ARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEMBER UPON THE SAID LOAD-CARRYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBERS OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS, EACH OF THE SAID LOAD-CARRYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED THEREIN ON THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, AND THE SAID MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAID ARTICLE-SUPPORTING MEMBER UPON SAID LOAD-CARRYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBERS OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS INCLUDING A LOAD-CARRYING MEMBER HAVING A PORTION THEREOF MOUNTED IN THE SAID ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE SAID LOAD-CARRYING TUBULAR SLEEVE MEMBER OF A PLURALITY OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS. 